It's no secret that Santa Claus loves cookies as much as he loves giving gifts to children at Christmas.
Jason Smith, Celebrity Chef who won Food Network's “Holiday Baking Championship” in 2016 and now serves as a judge on “America's Best Baker,” spoke to Fox News Digital about the cookie tradition.
A native of Kentucky who now lives in Florida, Smith revealed how Festive snack It began – and why people leave sweets for Santa Claus.
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“Christmas cakes “It became a staple many years ago,” Smith said, starting in medieval monasteries.
“The monks had access to sugar, flour, and spices to make them. The Dutch brought the Christmas cake tradition to the United States in the early 1600s.”
Smith continued, “Birthday cookies were initially made to take to neighbours, friends and family to show their gratitude and kindness to each other. Most people didn't have a lot of money, and the cookie recipes made dozens – and it gave them plenty to pass around.”
Holiday Baking Championship winner Jason Smith spoke to Fox News Digital about the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Claus. (Jason Smith, iStock)
“The first cookies were sugar cookies or spice cookies, almost like gingerbread cookies as we know them today,” he added.
Eventually, Christmas cookies became part of Santa's tradition — but it wasn't a direct route, according to Smith.
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Cookies were first linked to Saint Nicholasthe early Christian bishop who served as the model upon which Santa Claus was built.
“Leaving cookies for Santa or Saint Nicholas is a tradition that started during Saint Nicholas Day, which the Dutch celebrate every year,” Smith said.
“The families didn't have a lot of money or baking supplies, but they had enough to bake a small batch of cookies for Santa.”
“They would bring cakes to honor the saint and to give travelers a snack when they arrived from all over the country to praise the saint.”
“Here in the United States, Santa's cookies began during the Great Depression as a teachable lesson,” he continued. “Families didn't have a lot of money or baking supplies, but they had enough to make ends meet.” Bake a small amount of cookies For Santa. This was also to teach (the children) to be thankful and benevolent for what they have. This tradition has stuck around and is still followed today.”
Leaving cookies for Santa became a tradition in the United States during the Great Depression. (Istock)
Smith told Fox News Digital that Christmas cake tradition He was observed in his home as he grew up.
He said he remembers filling stockings with fresh cookies on the fireplace for Santa at his grandparents' request.
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“Santa would take the cookies out of the stockings, eat them, and then fill the stockings with our gifts,” Smith said.
“milk This came in later years when families realized that Santa needed something to wash down all those homemade cookies.
Santa's favorite type of cookie is chocolate chip, although he initially received either sugar or spice flavors. (Istock)
Although sugar or spice cookies were the original sweet of old St. Nick, Santa's favorite cookie is and always will be a plain milk chocolate chip cookie, Smith said.
“It was more fun because it was chocolate and chocolate wasn't readily available,” Smith said.
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Chocolate chip cake “pairs so well with milk, from the sweetness of the cookies to the bitter sweetness of the chocolate, to that creaminess of healthy milk. It's just the perfect touch.”
Santa “immediately fell in love with the chocolate cake,” Smith said.
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“He was so grateful to get rid of the sugar cookies.”
